Resilient wheel



P. DE PFYFFER REsILIENT WHEEL Filed May 2. 1923 :s sheets-sheer, 1

May zo 1924. 1,495,004

ATTORNEY "May zo, 1924'. 1,495,004

P. DE PFYFFER RES ILIENT WHEEL Filed May 2. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5am. www 55'/ wrrN Esse-.s 5

ATTORNEY May 20, 1924...v

wl'rNEssvEs 1,455,004 P. DE PFYFFER RESILIENT WHEEL Filed May 2. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Paul de ffy/'fel' INVENTOR ATTO R N EV Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED s'rarssV .PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL DE PFYFFER, or KELOWNA, Barrisrr COLUMBIA, CANADA.

RESILIEN' T WHEEL.

Application filed May 2, 1923. Serial No. 636,190.

tween the hub and the rim, instead of between the rim and the road.

The present invention is in the nature of.

an improvement'on'the structure shown in my earlier applicatlon Serial No. 391,688,

filed June 25, 1920. The general arrangement of the parts is similar to that shown in the aforementioned application, in that the hub and rim portions of the wheel are provided with overlapping relatively movable disks within which the pneumatic cushioning device is contained.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the outer rim portion has a driving connection with the hub portion, thus enabling the vehicle supported by the wheels to be di rectly driven from the axle.

Another important object is the provision of a pneumatic cushion with a mantle or casing of special construction and improved means for mounting the same by means of which the wheel isv rendered more practicable and more durable.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved constructionl for mounting they brake drum so as to reduce the torsional strain and leverage on the wheel when the brake is applied, thus making it possible to secure the requisite strength by means of a lighter construction than was heretofore practicable.

The invention also includes various other improvements in the details of construction which will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention 1n its preferred form.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diametric section wheel embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the improved wheel.

Fig. 3 is a diametric section through the upper half of the Wheel taken at a different angle from Fig.v 1. f A l Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the rim, illustrating a modified form.

Fig. 5' is a sectional `detail view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

rthrough a Fig. 6Y is a detail sectional View on an enlarged scale showingfthe mantle or tire casingand parts associated therewith.

. Fig. y7 is a diametric section .of the upperv part of the wheel with parts omitted or shown diagrammatically, for the sakeV of. clearness.

Referringparticularly to Figs. 1 and'3, the driving axle `10 is shown as having a hub llsecured .in` driven relation` thereto by a key 12.V The intermediate portion of the .hub is provided withftwo symmetrically-disposed circumferential enlargements 13 preferably formed integral therewith, and presenting opposed concave faces 14 which merge into the cylindrical portion of the hub to form a smoothly rounded seat to receive the pneumatic cushion 15. Thisl cushion, which has a function similar to the inner tube of apneumatic tire, extends throughout a considerableportion of the diameter of the Wheel and has a comparatively small central opening to correspond with the surface of the hub upon which it 'p rests.

Thev outer faces of the enlargements 13 form shoulders 17 in planes perpendicular to 'the axisl of the hub andthe portions 1o of the hub lextending beyond these shoul ders are non-circular to receive disks 18 and 19 which rest against the shoulders 17. An annular plate 2O rests against the disk 18, and a plate 21 rests against the disk 19, and*A forms the supporting part or,backv of a brake drum 22. 'The extremities of the hub terminate inreduced threadedportions 23, one of which receives a hub'cap 24 that forms al protective covering for the Unuts engaging the outer threaded end of the axle 10, and also secures the plate 2O and disk 18 firmly against the adjacent shoulder .17. The other threaded end 23 receives a nut 25 which secures the brake drum supportving plate or back 21 and disk 19 firmly against the opposite shoulder 17:. A. valve stem 26, secured to the pneumatic cushion or inner tube 15, extends through the disk 18 and plate 20 to. provide means for infiating the tire.

The disks 1.8 and 19 are formed near the outer extremity of the cushion 15 with inrlhe outer portions ofv disks18 andy 19 areY received between a pair rof outer disks 31 A havinglarge central openings and connected together by bolts 32 normally in concentric relation to the hub. TheA disks31 are held in spaced relation by an annular ring mein- Vber 33'whicli may be in the form of a hollow steel casing or may beY formed .of hard wood or other suitable material. rlhe ring or casing 33 is calculated to be strong enough to allow a standard steelrini 34 to be pressed on and securedin the usual way. The rim 34 is provided with aA solid rubber tire 35,

and in'its preferredv form, extends laterally.

beyond the disks 31, t thus `furnishing pro* tectioii: to the heads and Vnuts of the bolts 32. The peripheries of the. disks 31 are also flushY with the outer face of the, casing 33 to allow the rim to Ybe pressed on and also to prevent any-(strain on the bolts 32 in a. radial direction` in casetheair. cushion becomes deflated. v

The linner side ofthe casing 33 is concaved and bent inwardly andY 'formed into a.V relatively narrow convex portionV 36V projecting` Vdiametrically toward the hub and formingV a seatxwhich rests upon the pneumatic casing 29 to support theouter rim 34 and solid rubber tire 35. Y

It is to be understood that'the outer disks 31l are freely slidable on the inner disks 18 and 19, in order to permit the full cushioning` effect of the pneumatic cushion 15.' ln order to permit this relative sliding movement and at the same time to/maintain a driving relation between the hub and outer rim,Y l' have provided a connection betweenV the disks 31 and' disks 18 andj19 ofV special construction, which will now be described.

Each of the outerdisks 31 is provided withla slot 37 wide enoughto receive ai driving pin 38,k Fig. 5, and certain anti-friction means wliichrwill' bev presently described, said slot4 being also long enough, radially, to permit the desired play between the rim section and hub in response to the yielding Vthe rim of'ithe wheel.

Ylongitudinal edge, forming a reduced p0r-V tioii 43 seated within the slot 37 of theV disk 31, while the other or enlarged portion of the guide plate 42 is seated within a longi-Y tudinal socket formed, in a cover 44.

The coverI 44 comprises a flat plate 45 of rectangular shape'secured to the disk 31 means of bolts 46,' and has a. raised portion 47 centrally located and forming a chamber for the reception ofthe guide plate 42, the

end'of the driving pin 38 and its s'ecuringnut 48. As shown in Fig. 5 the-nut 48jis sufficiently largeto engageV the ball bearing sleeve 39 and preventthe same from slipping off Vfrom thepin 38.

The cover 44 performs a triple function,

in that it is adapted to' firmly maintain the guide 42 for the square case 40 in position; it forms a protecting cover for the slot 37 to prevent dust or foreign matter from entering the interior of the wheelrand it re-`V inforces the disk. 31 at Vthe' point where the slot^37 is formed. Furthermorer`v thecham` .ber in the cover is adapted to retain acer! tain amount of lubricati,ng-oil, whereby the driving pin and its associated.' parts will be thoroughly lubricated and wear on the same will thus be reduced toaminimum.

Thus, it will be seen that the inner disks 18and 19 are firmly securedto the axleg that is, they are held not only in concentric posi.- tion relative to the axle, but also firmly keyed thereto,v and through the medium of the pin 38, transmit This pin 38'n'ot only serves as a means for forcing the rim section the driving power to to follow the revolutions ofthe axle, but.:

also providesa pivot about which the disks c 31 swing in response to the yieldingofY the pneumatic cushion as the wheelfrevolves and the weight is constantly transferred along thecircumference of the wheel'.`

The outer edges of the disks 18 and 19 are turned inwardly to forni Vfianzlges 49 which reinforce the disks and also, provide supports for buffers 50 of'rubbe'r or other yieldable material, on which the inner edges of the casings 33 may ride in case the pneumatic vcushion shouldbecome deflated.

In the operation of the wheel, the cushion? ing surface of the mantle or casing 29 vwhich receives the inwardly-projecting convex portion 36 of the riin casing isof comparatively small extent laterally,`and' in order ifioaoofiY to obtain the best results and insure the durability of the casing, I have constructed the latter as shown best in Fig. 6. Inthis construction, the casing, the usual vulcanized fabric or cord, is formed centrally with an inwardly bent portion l,y around the outer face of which is secured a tread 52 of tough rubber which is lens-shaped in cross section with its inner convex face concentric with the inwardlycurved face 51. The result of this construction is that the outer rubber facing 53, as well as the unstretchable reinforcement fabric or cord of the casing,

is manufactured, and consequently they are never subjected to any cons-iderable stretch.

ing strain, no matter how deeply lthe contacting portion of the casing 33 may be pressed into the-cushion. Without this special forni of casing, there would be a constant stretching and wearing of the fabric which would injure the casing. Y

The casing 29, which performs the same function as the outer casing of the usual type of pneumatic tire, may be retained on the wheel in any of the several ways customarily employed in connection with pneumatic tires. In the preferred construction, the casing is of the straight sided type having` uiistretchable beads 54 which .rest on the ledges 28 and are held against the lateral spreading bythe straight portions 3() of the disks 18 and 19. The beads 54, as shown, have one or more wires 55 inlaid or Vembedded therein, each wire forming an unstretchable ring serving to hold the beads against stretching and maintain them in close relation to thev ledges 28 and Vconcentric to the wheel axle.

One of the inner disks, as 19, is formed` with a concentric annular channel 56, the inner side of which forms asloping seat 5? against which rests the correspondingly sloping portion 58 of the brake drum 2 2. By this construction, the brakel drum is placed nearer to the center planev of the Wheel, thus reducing torsional spread and, leverage on the wheel when the brake is l strongly applied, the braking power being applied directly to the hub sectionand transted therefrom to the rim section by means of the pin 38. Y

ln Fig. 4, I have shown an outer rim casing 33a of modified construction, wherein the same is made in two parts, the inner portion having radially-extending flanges 59 which are received within corresponding flanges 60 extending inwardly from the outer rim or felly 61, the entire casing being .secuied between the disks 31 by the bolts 32 which pass through the disks and through registering perforations in the flanges 59 and 60.

Either form of rim casing 33 or 33a may be made from any suitable material, Vand if which is made ofv assumes already f an inwardly-bent position when the casing .for all movements of the rim setion toward 0r away from the axle during the forward travel of the wheel, and the whole rim section is allowedto swing freely around this driving pin as a pivot, being held` against l movement toward and away from the axle only by the resiliency of the pneumatic cushion 15.

The length of the slots 37 is calculated to` allow the" desired resiliency, and in case the pneumatic cushion becomes deflated, injury to the casing 29 will be prevented by the limiting flanges 49, and the effect of the vibrations of the rim will still be somewhat cushioned by the resilient facing 50 which prevents the steel casing 33 from coming in contact with the steel flanges 49.

It will be particularly noted that the connection betweenv the outer and inner disks is obtained by means of a single driving pin on each side ofthe wheel, said pin being secured to either the inner or outer disk and loosely extending through a suitable bearing secured to the adjoining disk. It will be obvious that this feature of the invention is equally applicable to the .structure shown in my former application above referred to, as well as to other resilient wheels having g an inner and an outer pair of radially overlapping disks which are arranged so as to allow radial and` tangential play ofone pair-'relative to the other pair. j

The ledges 28 on which the mantles are seated are located substantially midway between the hub-and the rim, so that the inner tube 15 projects inwardly considerably beyond the mantle By this means, the

lproper ratio between the air volume of the inner tube and the bearing surface of the same is maintained. y While l have shown and described, specifically, the detailsof construction by means of which my invention is carried out, it is to be understood that this is., merely illustrative, and that numerous modifications may be made therein so long as such modifications mark no materialy departure from the Y salient features of the invention, as eX- `pressed in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed isrl. A resilientwheel including a hub, a pair of inner disks mounted on said hub, a pair of outer disks secured together and movable relatively to the inner disks but held against rotation about the wheel axis relatively to the inner 'disks a casing secured to the outer disks 'and having an inwardly-projecting convex part throughoutl the entire circumference, and a resilient cushion mounted on said hub between the from each other so as to allow radial andA tangential play of one pair relative tothe other pair, a connection between the outer and` inner disks consisting of a single'pin connected to onedisk and a bearing slidably mounted in a slot of the adjoining' disk, the pin working in said; bearing,` a cushion mounted between the inner disks and bearing uponthe hub, and means connecting the outerY disks and bearing upon the cushion between' the inner disks.

A resilient wheel including an axle supported hub, a pair o disks mounted ou said hub, 'a second pair of disks secured? together, a casing securedl tothe second pair Vot disks, a resilient cushion mounted on said hub between the inner disks and bearing against a portion only of the inner service of saidV casing, -a'driving member for drivingone pair or disks, a pin mounted on one oi a pair oiv said disks, and a movable bearing'for said pin mounted on one of the other pair of said disks. l

4. A, resilient wheel including an axlesupported hub, a pair oi disks mounted on said liu-b, a second pair of disks secured together, a casing secured to the. second pair of disks, a resilient cushion mountedl on said hub between theV inner disks and bearing against a portion only of the inner sur-- face of said casing, a driving member/for driving one pair of the disks, a radial-slot in one of a pairy oit' said' disks, a cover plate enclosing said slot, a guide mounted in. the` cover plate, a pin mounted onv one of the other pair o'll said disks, and-a ball bearing ring mounted on the pin and slidable in the guide.

A resilient wheel including an anlesupported hub, a pair ot inner disksmountedV on" said hub, a pair ofV outer 'disks' normally supported in concentric` relation with the inner disks, a casi-ng'secu'red to and between them-iter disks,a i'esili'eiit'cushion mounted on said' hub between the inner disks and bearing against a portion only of the inner surface-of said casing, a driving member for driving Vone pair( of' the disks, a lpin mounted on a disk and projecting through a slot in an adjacent' concentric disk, and av ball bearing ring mounted on the pin and slidable in said radialV slot. Y Y

Y6'. A resilient wheel including an axle-- supported hub,l a pair of disks mounted on said hub, a secondpairot disks secured together, a casing secured to the second pair of disks, a resilient cushion mounted ledges.

on said hub between' the inner'disks and' bearing againstl a Vportion only-ofthe in- Y ner surface of said casing, a driving member, a radial slot in one of a pair 0f disks,"

a cover plate enclosing" said slot, Ya radial guide mounted in the slot and locked in position on said disk` by said cover plate, v

faces concave, a pair ofrdisks mounted onsaid sections and held in position against saidA shoulders by nuts engagingsaid screw tnreads,' a pneumatic cushion comprising tween said disks, a housing enclosing the soY Lio' yan inflatable tube mounted on the hub becushion and disks, the concave facesofthe y shoulders merging'into the peripheral sur'- face oi the hub and the adiacent acesfoi" the disks to protect the pneumatic cushion from bending too-sharply.

8. A resilient Wheel including'a housing and a pneumatic annular cushion mounted within the housing, said housingV including iso a pair of spaced disliscoaxially niounte'd and having inwardly-projecting ledges, and mantle surrounding the peripheral portion of said cushion and having-straight sides held against the respective disks and'terininating in beads Awhich areseated upon said 9. A resilient wheel including anaxle-supported housing, a resilient cushion enclosed by said housing and having a mantle for iis pifotectingthe outer'portionsthereof, said housing including a pair-- o'fspaced disks with inwardly-projecting concentric 'ledges f and a ring'having ani inwardly-projectingl convex portion throughout its circumference, the crown of said inl-wardly-convexportion bearing againstv the resilient cushionl covered by the mantle, the inner edges-ofthe mantle having straight sides terminating in beads which rest upon said ledges whereby a three-point contact between 'themaiitle and the housing is provided;

l0. A resilient wheel including a housing, Y

a resilient cushion and a mantle therefor enclosed by the housing, said cushion and mantle being'transversely convex on theirV peripheral portion, the housing including' spaced disks formed with integral inwardlyprojecting ledges, and a'relatively slidable ring having an inwardly-projecting portion Y an engaging the convex portion of the cushion and mantle, said mantle having straight sides held between the disks and terminating in beads seated upon said ledges, the crown of the cushion and mantle sustaining a thrust from the crown of the inwardly-projecting portion when a load is pnt upon the wheel.

11. A resilient wheel including an axlesupported hub, a pair of inner disks mounted on said hub, each disk provided with an inwaidly-projecting flange at its outer edge ,forming a support for a mantle, a pair of outer disks normally in concentric relation with the inner disks, an annular ring member secured to and between the outer disks and provided with an annular inwardly-projecting convex portion, and a resilient cushion held between the inner disks and provided with a peripheral mantle resting on said flanges and in engagement with the convex portion of the ring member.

12, A resilient wheel including an axle-supported casing, and a resilient cushion comprising a mantle and an inner tube, said mantle protecting the outer periphery of the inner tube, said casing including spaced disks having inwardly-projecting ledges and a peripheral ring having a portion inwardly convex throughout its entire circumference, the crown of said inwardly-convex portion bearing against the resilient cushion covered by the mantle when a load is put upon the wheel.y the side edges of the mantle being straight and terminating in beads seated upon said ledges and held against lateral spreading by said disks, said inner tube being enclosed by the hub, disks and mantle whereby it extends further inwardly toward the center of the wheel than the side edges of the mantle to give the proper ratio between the air cushion and the bearing surface of the resilient cushion on the inwardlyconvex portion of the casing.

13. A resilient wheel including an axlesupported hub, a pair of inner disks mounted on said hub, a pair of outer disks secured together and movable relatively to the inner disks, a ring secured to the outer disks and having an inwardly-proiecting convex part throughout its entire circumference, a resilient cushion mounted on said hub between the inner disks and including a mantle, said mantle having its central portion bent inwardly to form a concave outer surface and a double convex tread portion secured to the concave surface and bearing against the convex part of the ring.

i4. A resilient wheel including an axlesupported housing, a resilientcushion within the housing and provided with a mantle for protecting the outer portions thereof, said housing including inwardly-projecting concentric ledges, and a ring having a portion inwardly convex throughout its entire circumference, the crown of said inwardlyconvex portion bearing against the mantle when a load is put upon the wheel, the inner edges of the mantle having straight sides terminating in beads which are seated on said ledges, the intermediate portion of said mantle being bent inwardly to form a concave outer surface, and a double convex tread portion secured to the concave surface and bearing against the convex part of the rino'.

15. A resilient wheel including an axlesupported housing and a resilient cushion comprising a mantle; and an inner tube, said mantle protecting the outer periphery of the inner tube, said housing including a ring having a portion inwardly convex throughout its entire circumference, the crown of said inwardly-convex portion bearing against the resilient cushion covered by the mantle when a load is put upon the wheel, said mantle having its central portion bent inwardly to forni a concave outer surface, and a double convex tread portion secured to the concave surface and forming a surface against which the ring bears, the side portions of the housing having inwardlyprojecting ledges substantially midway between the axle and the outer periphery of the wheel which form a, support for the mantle whereby said inner tube extends further inwardly towards the center of the wheel than the side edges of the mantle to give the proper ratio between the air volume and the bearing surface of the resilient cushion on the inwardly convex portion of the ring.

16. An outer casing for pneumatic tires and the like having straight sides terminating in beads which are substantially unstretchable and having its central portion bent inwardly to form a concave outer surface, and a double convex tread portion of gum rubber vulcanized to the concave surface to form a bearing surface.

17. A resilient wheel comprising a hub, a pair of inner disks mounted on the hub, a pair of outer disks normally concentric with the inner disks and movable relatively thereto, a casing secured between the outer disks, a resilient cushion mounted between the inner disks, hub and casing, one of the inner disks having a concentric channel in its outer face, and a brake drum secured to the hub and having a portion shaped to lit into said channel and rest against the inner face thereof whereby to reduce the torsional strain and leverage on the wheel when the brake is applied.

18. A resilient wheel including an axlesupported housing, and resilient means including a resilient cushion and a mantle for protecting the outer portions thereof, said housing including a ring having a portion inwardly covex throughout its entire circumference, the crown of said inwardlyconvex portion bearing against the resilient cushion covered by the mantle when load is put upon the Wheel, said housingyalso including a pair of spaced disks between which the Cushion and mantle are held, .and zi :pair of relatively move-ble disks between which the ring is secured, the Vouter face of the ring being flush with the peripheiies of .the

disks, and a riln secured to the outer face ofi Y the ring and projecting beyond the feces Vof the disks.

fruire.

PAUL DE PFYFFER. 

